The Stan were looking to build on Saturday's win at Bedlington as they travelled to 8th place Synners, the preparation wasn't helped with a major accident on the A19 which meant players arrived late and the unavailibility of Stoddart, Deagle and Mason but new signing Michal Baxter was available and he took his place on the bench. There were recall's for Simpson, Burns, Charmey and Kerridge with Regan Paterson dropping out of the starting eleven.

Synners included the experienced Leon Carling at the back and the prolific Danny Earl upfront as they looked to avenge their League Cup defeat at Grounsell in September.

The hosts kicked off on an excellent playing surface in cold but decent conditions, the opening exchanges were cagey with Synners looking to get it down and play and the Stan keeping good shape and sharp into the tackle. Synners won a couple of corners that were easily dealt with before Bailey fired over the bar from 25 yards in the 12th minute.

Three minutes later the Stan fashioned a decent chance when Charmey slipped Wilson in behind the defence but Orton was out quickly and got a hand to his shot.

After a lengthy stoppage for treatment to Sayer a poor clearance from Simpson was almost punished but Regan made a fine save with his legs at his near post.

Synners had the upper hand and claimed a penalty after contact was made in the box but Mr Mann was having none of it.

Regan kept it goal less with a fantastic save from Dickenson's flicked header from a Garton Free Kick as the Stan struggled to get to grips with the hosts movement. A misjudgement from Hall and a subsequent handball saw him get the game's first yellow card on 40 minutes.

Against the run of play the Stan took the lead on 44 minutes when a Synners Free kick was cleared and Kerridge broke over the halfway line, he found Wright in the inside left channel and his low cross shot beat Orton and BURNS slid it home from close range.

HT: Synners 0 - 1 Stan

There had been some strange decisions by Mr Mann in the first period and he continued to anger both teams in the second half,i counted that he stopped the game seven times when players were down injured despite only two of them being head injuries. Synners were first to show after the break and Earl shot across the face of goal when well placed before they replaced Bligh with Wilson

.The Stan were seeing much more of the ball but without looking like adding to the advantage but at the same time the back four, ably protected by Bailey, were looking increasingly comfortable.

Ray was harshly booked for a foul 40 yards from goal on 63 before both Wright and Salmon were also shown yellow cards after clashing 3 minutes later. Fiedler replaced Wilson on 68 and a minute later the Stan doubled their lead with a superb breakaway goal. As per the first goal they won the ball back in their own half and Wright broke over halfway before releasing Burns in space down the right, his low cross evaded the keeper and KERRIDGE met it at the back post to finish left footed as the angle diminished.

It was all Stan now with the Fiedler heavily involved, another good build up saw Wright turn past his man but toepoke his shot over the top from just inside the box. He didn't have to wait long for his goal and once again it came form deep with Fiedler picking the ball up in his own half and slaloming past 4 defenders, he slipped a pass to WRIGHT to flashed a shot inside Orton's near post from 25 yards to put the game to bed.

Baxter replaced Wright and Regan Paterson came on for Burns, who was yellow carded for not leaving the pitch at his nearest opportunity, and both looked lively as the Stan continued to press against a despondant Synners. Baxter had the ball in the net but the flag was already up and the Stan saw out the remainder of the game without alarm to chalk up a third successive clean sheet and a fourth in five games.

FT: Synners 0 - 3 Stan

A massive 3 points for the Stan as a defeat would have seen Synners overtake us into 6th place. Regan had made a brilliant diving save at nil nil but by and large was untroubled throughout as his back four and a disciplined middle five had kept Synners at bay. This gave the Stan the platform to build on and that they did with three breathtaking goals on the break much to the delight of the dozen or so travelling Stan Army.

With only one goal conceded in the last five games and the meanest defence in the league it has been a lack of goals that has undermined our promotion push so far. But with the return from injury of Wright, the return of Burns from the USA & the signings of Wilson, Fiedler and Baxter we now look like we have the firepower in depth to mount a serious challenge. Certainly once all five of these are match fit, alongside Paterson, Kerridge and Charmey, then Decka will have a lovely headache of trying to fit them all in.

Next up is Esh Winning at GP on Sat 11th..............., i'll see you there.

Team (4-5-1): Regan; Simpson, Sayer, Hall, Ray; Burns (R Paterson 80 min), Bailey, Charmey (C), Wilson (Fiedler 68 Min), Kerridge; Wright (Baxter 76 Min)

Subs: (Not Used): Imray, Paterson (M)

Goals: Burns 44 Min, Kerridge 69 Min, Wright 75 Min

Att: 67

Simon Lansley